In the kitchen, Wang Guixiang and several other women were washing and tidying up.
After finishing her work, Qin San Niang wiped her hands and said to Wang Guixiang, "Guixiang, it's getting late, and it's not convenient for us to stay overnight. We'd like to trouble you to see if you can find us a place to stay, even if it's an empty house. We won't stay for free, and we won't let you work for nothing!" As she spoke, she took out a small piece of silver from her sleeve and handed it to her.
This silver is a full half tael, five hundred copper coins! Normally, a passing traveler would only need three or four coins to stay overnight. Even if Qin San Niang and her group stayed for more than ten days, it would be enough. The villagers would definitely be happy!
Wang Guixiang's hands were burning as she held the silver; she couldn't even remember the last time she had touched silver!
"Oh dear, Madam Qin, the money you gave me is enough! I'll go ask around and see if any houses are available!" Wang Guixiang was overjoyed. She was really lucky today! Not only did she have a good meal with meat, but she also kept putting money into her account.
Qin San Niang was a generous person, and from then on, Wang Guixiang really hoped that they could settle down here. Who wouldn't want to get along with a generous person?
Her husband was weak and alone. Although he was a blacksmith, he was an outsider. Fortunately, her family was from Wangwu Village next door. Many of her sisters had married into this Shiligou village. After all, it was closer to the city. In the past, when the harvest was good, they could set up stalls on the official road to sell fruit, handkerchiefs, and other things, which could help supplement the family income.
In addition, her husband's brother-in-law was a bodyguard, and a leader at that. The locals would give him some respect, even though they didn't usually need to escort goods. But the bodyguards of the escort agency were obviously highly skilled in martial arts!
But the Cheng family is poor! If they could get help from a benefactor, they might be able to eat and dress well! She also remembered that before the New Year, her mother went to the temple to burn incense, saying that the Cheng family would encounter a benefactor this year?!
Wang Guixiang was suddenly struck by a sudden inspiration, feeling a surge of energy rushing straight to the top of her head! Could this Lady Qin be their family's benefactor?
He hurriedly went to his bedroom and woke up Cheng Shi, who was taking a nap.
Having finally had a decent meal, one that was even a bit oily, Cheng Shi was unusually looking for a nap, as he had to go to the village head's office that afternoon! Seeing his wife arrive, he wasn't annoyed at all, and asked, "Niu Niu's mother, what are you doing at this hour? Why aren't you outside greeting the guests?"
Gu Qingshan and He Yingyuan went to rest in the carriage, leaving only the women and children strolling and chatting in the courtyard.
Wang Guixiang carefully untied Niu Niu from her back. Presumably, Niu Niu had eaten her fill, and her daughter was very well-behaved today, already asleep.
Cheng Shi quickly went to massage his wife's shoulders. It has to be said, this man is a doting husband.
Seeing her husband like this, all the resentment she felt for marrying an outsider vanished. Before, because she insisted on marrying Cheng Shi, her parents and brothers disagreed, and her sisters-in-law had been sarcastic and sarcastic! She understood that they weren't really planning for her future; they just thought that if they married her off to someone well-off, the family could earn more dowry money.
But she insisted on marrying Cheng Shi, the blacksmith! Even though they're poor now, she never thought of asking her family for help.
"Look, what's this?!" Wang Guixiang excitedly opened her palm, revealing a piece of broken silver. She then bit it with her teeth.
"It's real silver, boss!"
Upon seeing such a piece of silver, Cheng Shi was surprised, but then he realized that it must have been given by Qin San Niang and the others. Didn't they say before that they would give him five taels of silver after the job was done?
"Wife, what's this money for? Did Madam Qin give it to you?" Although he had questions in his mind, Cheng Shi asked cautiously. He was a blacksmith, and although he looked like a rough man, he was actually thoughtful and not a reckless person.
Ignoring the suspicion in his eyes, Wang Guixiang happily continued, "Madam Qin and the others asked me to find them a place to rest. And look, they gave us so much money! They're so generous! Even the village head's wife isn't this generous!"
At this point, Wang Guixiang pursed her lips. The village head's wife, Wang Shi, was also from their village. Because she married the village head, her status rose, and she often flaunted her power in front of them, the young wives!
Hearing his wife's explanation, Cheng Shi understood. This family was quite polite, and finding an empty house wasn't difficult. Shili Gou had no shortage of empty houses! Many villagers who fled said they would return, but who knew if they would live or die? Some even entrusted their houses to familiar villagers, essentially giving them away! However, finding a suitable house wasn't easy; all the better ones were already taken.
“Wife, I’ll mention this to the village head when I go to his house later. Anyway, Madam Qin and the others want to settle down here. If it works out, it’s fine to find them a place to stay first.”
Others may not be able to find good houses, but the village head certainly has the ability to do so. Not to mention anything else, those few good houses are all controlled by the village head and the clan elders. They say that in the future, those who settle down can sell them, and the money from the sale of the houses will be divided equally among the clan members, of course, excluding Cheng Shi, who is not a member of the clan.
"That's right, that's what I think too. Think about it, Madam Qin trusts us so much, we can't just give her a drafty thatched hut to live in!"
"We'll have to talk to the village head about this. Here, take this money and buy some things to avoid the village head's wife nagging!" Wang Guixiang handed the still-warm silver to her husband, then added with a stern tone.
"You need to pay attention to this! My mother said before the New Year that your Cheng family would meet a benefactor this year. I think this Mrs. Qin is probably your benefactor!" Wang Guixiang said in a low voice.
If it weren't for that, she really wouldn't have been willing to take out all the eggs in the house to make soup, and she would have also used the rice and meat brought by Qin San Niang to make food.
When did your mother ever say that?! Cheng Shi muttered to himself, but he didn't dare to actually say it! His mother-in-law was a real shrew, and he wouldn't dare to ask her.
However, people in this era were almost obsessed with the idea of immortals. Although he didn't know if it was true, it didn't stop him from nodding seriously, as if he was going to treat this matter as a top priority!
"Wife, I understand." Cheng Shi readily agreed. "What do you think I should buy to send to the village head?" His wife was much more clever than him and was also excellent in dealing with people. He wasn't the kind of man who couldn't stand his wife being better than him, so he felt no pressure at all when he asked.
Wang Guixiang pondered for a moment, "The village head usually likes to have a drink. Go to Granny Jiu's house and buy a pound of wine, and a bundle of pastries. Make sure they have lard-filled shortbread; the village head's wife loves that!"
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